Wrecking apparatus.



(No Model.)

WITNESSES: A L924;

Patented May 29, I900. E. NIEHOFF.

wm-zckms APPARATUS.

Application filed'flapt. 22, 189B. Renewed Feb. 2, 1900.)

INVENTOR THE norms PEYERS co. PNOTO-UINO WASHINGTON, u c.

' U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST NIEIIOFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF THREE-EIGHTIIS TO HENRY T. DENTREMQNT, OF LOVER EAST PUBNICO, CANADA.

WRECKING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,650, dated May 29, 1900.

pp cation filed September 22,1896. Renewed February 2, 1900- Serial No. 3,747. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST NIEHOFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, (Stapleton,) in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vrecking Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to wrecking apparatus; and it consists of a new valve having equal pressure areas at both ends and adapted for use in connection with expansible and collapsible bags and the like used for raising submerged vessels, said valve being intended to equalize the pressures upon the inner and outer sides of the bag to which it is attached.

In the drawings accompanying this application, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved valve. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a vertical elevation of the device. Fig. 5 is aside view of a bag, showing myimproved valve attached thereto.

In said figures, A indicates the outer shell of the valve, said shell being cylindrical in shape and of an even thickness throughout its length. It is provided with the exterior screw-threads a a, the interior or annular shoulder or flange b, and has apertures or ports 0, arranged, preferably, in a concentric plane through its wall. A shorter cylindrical piece is provided, consisting of portion B, which is of a diameter to fit movably within the contracted space formed by the shoulder b, and the enlarged portionC, which fits movably within the shell A at one side of said shoulder b, and holes d are formed in a concentric line through the wall of said portion B. The outer end of said portion Bis screwthreaded exteriorly, and a cylindricallyshaped piece D, having an inwardly-projecting flange eat one end,said flange being screwthreaded, is adapted to be screwed thereon, said piece D being operated by means of a transverse barf or other suitable means. A coiled spring E is placed around portion B between the shoulder 12 and piece D. The portion 0 of the interior cylinder is of greater area than port-ion B, the said portions B and 0 being connected by an elbow, which forms the inner annular abutment g and the outer annular abutment h, and the outer end of said portion 0 is interiorly threaded to receive a threaded cap-piece F. Said cap-piece F has a vertical rib i, by the aid of which it may be turned, or it may have other suitable means of operating.

G indicates a globular-shaped hood having perforations j and threaded neck It, whereby it may be screwed over either end of the valve upon the threads at or a, according to which end of said valve is to be exposed. My said valves are intended to be secured at the end not covered by hood G into any air or other pressure receptacle H, as indicated in Fig. 5, where it is necessary to equalize the pressures upon the inner and outer sides thereof.

Among other purposes to which this valve may be applied are caissons and pontoons used for raising sunken vessels, such devices requirin g an interior airpressure equaling, but not exceeding, the external water-pressure, which latter, of course, varies according to the depth at which operations are conducted. The device is equally applicable to divers helmets and for submarine mechanical work generally.

The spring E rests between the piece D and I shoulder 12 and holds the Valve normally closed. Upon applying a greater atmospheric pressure at the open end of the valve than the pressure that may be against the cap F the inner parts are caused to slide within casing A against the tension of spring E until the openings 61 pass the shoulder 11 and permit an exit through the ports c.- When the pressure becomes equal on both sides of the valve, the spring E holds it closed.

It will be observed that the construction of the parts of this valve and their arrangement provides pressure-surfaces at the opposite ends of exactly equal area, thereby enabling said valve to act as a perfect balance and to maintain the equilibrium of pressure on both sides.

Having now described my invention, I declare that what I claim is-- 1. An equalizing-valve consisting of an outer shell, provided with an inwardly-em tending flange, an inner cylinder having an enlarged end capped, adapted to be seated on said flange to form an external valve and a piece D at the opposite end, said cylinder having a diminished middle portion that is slidable within the outer shell and that fits piston-like within said shell at the contracted portion thereof, formed by the said flange; lateral holes in the diminished portion of said inner shell, a spring coiled around said diminished portion that shoulders respectively against the inwardly-extending flange and the piece D and that is adapted to hold the valve closed, substantially as described.

2. An equalizing-valve consisting of an outer cylindrical shell having an interior annular flange, and lateral exit-ports at apoint August, 1896.

ERNEST NIEHOFF. Vitnesses:

F. W. BARKER, J os. V. FLYNN, 

